Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that Northrop Grumman was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
The award combines Northrop Grumman’s unmanned and autonomous capabilities with Kratos’ Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system to operate alongside crewed fighters and deliver air dominance in high-threat environments.
Northrop Grumman will rapidly develop and deliver platforms featuring an advanced mission kit, open architecture autonomy software, and the Valkyrie unmanned aerial system. The cost-effective mission kit integrates sensors and software-defined technologies optimized for uncrewed aircraft and supports both kinetic and non-kinetic effects. Northrop Grumman’s Prism autonomy software will manage aircraft operations, while the Valkyrie provides conventional takeoff and landing, modular payload bays, and enhanced runway flexibility.
“Northrop Grumman remains at the forefront of advanced sensing capabilities, delivering innovative solutions that meet the needs of the warfighter with unmatched speed and reliability,”
said Krys Moen, vice president of advanced mission capabilities at Northrop Grumman.
Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division, said,
“Integrating the Valkyrie aircraft with Northrop Grumman’s multifunction mission systems results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables mass deployment alongside crewed aircraft.”
By packaging proven sensors and mission systems into a smaller, more affordable footprint, Northrop Grumman and Kratos—along with commercial partners—have developed a missionized CCA with survivability, connectivity, lethality, and supportability.
With more than 20 successful flight demonstrations, the team offers the Marine Corps a low-risk, accelerated path to MUX TACAIR capability and persistent joint manned-unmanned operations.
Source: Kratos